Universal joint



I A. VENDI TTY 2,386.,0l7

UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed April 24, 1942 Zyl 22431 %LWA Patented Oct. 2, 1945 UNIVERSAL JOINT Anthony vendtty; Detroit, Mlch., sslgnor to Thompson Products Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a

co-poratlonot Ohio Application April 24, 1942, Serial No. #10,286

Clalms. (CI. .GA-ll) This invention relates to a universal joint assembly wherein the torque load is transmitted through a spring-like member which is capable of bending to permit angulation of the joint.

More specifically the invention relates to a universal joint assembly 'wherein a multi-spoked spring plate or wheel carries the torque load across the widths of the spokes and wherein angulation is obtained by bending the spokes.

According to this invention a multi-spoked spring plate has its hub portion connected to one driving member and has the outer ends of the spokes resiliently mounted in the other driving member. The spokes can be quite thin but have appreciable width to carry torque loads between the drivng and driven members. Due to the thinness of the spokes, however, the'same can be twisted or flexed to permit angulation of the joint. The resilient mounting for the outer ends of the spokes permits oreshortening of the same due to angulation. The outer ends of the spokes are prefrably bonded to a rubber ring fixedly carried by the outer joint parts. In one illustrated embodiment of the invention the outer ends of the spokes have feet or fingers seated in the rubber ring while in another illustrated embodiment of the invention the outer ends of the spokes are bent to form flanges which are bonded to the inner periphery of the rubber'ring.

It is, then, an object ofthis invention to provide a universal joint having a spoked torquetransmitting member which is capable of being fiexed to permit angulation of the joint.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spoked spring type universal joint.

A still further object of the invention. is to provide a universal joint wherein the usual yoked driving and driven members are eliminated.

A still further object of ,the invention isto provide a. resilient universal joint having a deflectable spring plate for transmittlng torque between driving and driven members over a wide range of angulation.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a universal joint with one body member carrying a rubber mounting ior a spring plate and a, second body member for attachment to the central portion or hub of the spring plate.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheet of drawin'gs, which, by way of preferred examples, illustrate two embodiments of the inventio.

On the drawing:

Figura l is a. plan view, with parts broken away to illustrate underlying parts, .of a. universal joint according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken along the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view taken along the line III--III o Figure l. I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified manner of attaching the spring spokes to the rubber ring.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the outer end of the spoke shown in Figure 4.

As shown on the drawing: i

As shown in Figures l and 2 the reference numeral ID designates a universal joint composed .of a body member ll, a rubber ring !2 seated in the body member ll, a ring plate 3 for holding the rubber ring in the body member, a spoked spring plate ll having the outer ends of the spokes embedded in the rubberring 12, a second body member I5, and a cap and bolt assembly [6 and ll for holding the second body member !5 to the hub portion of the spoked plate M.

As best shown in Figure 2 the body member I I has a cylindrical hub portion Il a which can be internally splined to receive a shaft in driving connection therewith. A circular flange llb flares outwardly from the inner end of the hub portion Ha to denne an annular housing or seat Hc for the rubber ring !2. The flange ll can have integral ribs lld thereon for reinforcing the same.

The plate !3 closes an open face of the seat I Ic to hold the rubber ring in the seat. The plate !3 can be bolted to the body member H at spaced intervals around the ring by means of bolts or screws s. The screws are preferably positioned -adjacent the spokes of the spring plate ll, as

shown in Figura 1.

The plate M has a plurality, preferably eight, spokes l la projecting radially from a central apertured hub portion |'4b. The opposite faces of the hub portion Mb can be splined or radially serrated if desired. Each spoke Ha has a transverse corrugatedfoot or cross piece l4c`at the outer end thereof integral with the spoke. As shown in Figures l and 3, these cross feet 'Mc are corrugated to have laterally extending portions on the opposite faces of the feet. The corrugated feet are completely embedded in the rubber ring !2. The corrugations will serve to flrmly 4 a'nchor the feet 'llc against rotation relative to member.

the rubber ring. If desired. the rubber can be vulcanized to the feet Me. or the feet can merely be forced into slots cut into the rubber ring.

The second body member IE can have a keyw'ay |a !or attachment to a driving or driven portion |5b adapted to seat on the splined hub portion Mb of the spring plate lt. The seating well lic is !ormed in this enlarged end of the member IE.

The cap IS is fltted against the opposite face or the hub Mb and may also have a splined -seating face. The bolt or cap screw |1 is thread'ed through the cap IS into the well Ic for clamping the hub Mb between the body member and the cap I& to lock the body member IS against rotation relative to the spring plate i a.

It will be noted from Figures 1 and 2 that the spokes Ha' 'have appreciable width but that the same are quite thin. The spokes are thus adapted to carry heavy leads between the' members i I and I! since th'ese loads are carried across 'the widths of the spokes. Since the spokes are quite thin,

however, the same are adapted to be flexed so This member !5 has an enlarged end cushion seat for the outer ends of the spokes and x isadapted to be deflected so as to permitiore shortening of the spokes during angulation. The

, corrugated feet on the spokes, however, will prei |2 can, in its tree state. project beyond the seat Hc so that, when the piate |3 is drawn against the member ll, the ring win be deformed or 'floaded" thereby preventing relative rotation between the ring and body member.

The friction grip between the member IS and the hub of the' spring plate is suflicient to transmit ;all torsion loads as well as to transmit all bending loads to the spokes. Obviously, of course, a welded bond or other mechanical bond between the spring plate and the member !5 could be used. Alter'iatively individual spokes could be used provided their inner ends were fixedly connected to the member IS, or to a similar member. The spring plate M, however, can be easily stamped !rom a sheet of spring metal to provide a onepiece structure. 4

It will be noted from Figura 2 that the rubber ring is conflned around the outer periphery and along faces thereof. The inner peripheral face of the ring is unconfined and the rubber can thus be deformed as the spokes Ida are defiected dur- 'ing angulation of the joint. rubber seating for the spokes will permit deflection of .the spokes without, however, permitting the feet lc to be pulled out oi' the ring.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 the universal joint 20 can have a body or housing .member 2l similarto the member ll of the joint 26a with split outer ends bent in opposite directions to form flanges 25!) as best shown in Figure 5. These flanges !Gb are bonded to the inner periphery of the ring 23 as by vulcanizing or the like. Thus the fianges !Gb replace the corrugated feet Mc and are seated on the inner perlphery of the ring instead of in the ring. The ring 23 has unconflned faces and the ring can be deformed through interparticle flow of the rubber for permitting flexing of the spokes !Ba during angulation of the joint.

From the above description it will be understood that the invention provides a simple, 'nexpensive universal joint which carries torque loads through spring spokes and which articulates through a flexing of the spokes made possible by a rubber mounting tor the outer ends of the spokes.

It will also be understood that many forms of the invention are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of the invention may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A universal joint comprising-a housing member arranged for connection to a shaft, said housing member having a ring seating recess, a rubber ring seated in said recess, means on said housing holding said rubber ring against' rotation relative to the housing, a spoked spring plate having the outer ends of the spokes embedded in said rubber ring. 'and a shaftcoupling member rigidly afixed to the central portion of said spoked plate.

- in said annulus, and a second member adapted to be rotated carried by the central portion of said spring plate, said housing member and said second member adapted to be articulated relative to each other and rotated at the same speed by the spoked connection therebetween.

3. A universal joint comprising a body member having a hollow hub portion adapted to be secured on a shaft, a flange portion radiating from said hub portion, and a recess in said fiange portion providing an annular chamber. with an open end face and an open inner peripheral side, a rubber ring in said recess. a plate Secured on said flange and extending across the open face of the recess to thrust against the rubber rin for holding the ring in the recess, a fiexible metal plate having a central hub portion and a plurality of spokes radiating therefrom, means securing the outer ends of said spokes to said rubber ring, and means Secured to the hub portion of said plate adapted to be connected to a second shait.

4. A universal joint comprising'a housing member adapted to be rotated, a resilient annulus fixedly darried by said housing member, a second member adapted tobe rotated, a -plurality of i spokes extending radally from said second member, oppositely outturned fiange portions on the outer end of each spoke bonded to said resilient annulus, and said housing member and said second member 'adapted to be articulated relative to ecl other and rotated at the same speed by the spoked connection therebetween. i

5. A universal Joint comprising a housing mem ber manged for connection to a shaft, said housing member having a ring seating recess, a rgsilient annulus flxedly seat/ed in said recess,` a. member having a plurality oi' relatively thin flat flexible epokes radiatng therefrom with the flat faces thereor disposed transversely to the axis. 

